St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-18
THE CLOSING BANQUET.
A Brilliant Wind-Up to a Great
Celebration.


PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 1.-THE cele-
bration ended tonight with a grand
banquet by the University of Pennsyl-
vania, the American Philosophical So
ciety, the College of Physicians, the
Law academy, the Historical society,
the Franklin institute, the
Academy of Fine Arts and
Academy of Natural Sciences, to
President Cleveland and other distin-
guished guests of the centennial COM
mission. President Cleveland was
promptly in the academy of music at
the hour appointed for the banquet,
and found waiting for him the most dis
tinguished visitors to the city, as we'll
as almost every prominent man of af-
been laid over the seats in the
parquet, and tables for 600
persons spread. Growing plants and
cut flowers hid the hall from the gaze
of the persons in the lower floor. The
boxes were festOoned with ropes of
flowers and smilaX. and the stage was
set with tropical scene. At $50 the
guests formed in line, and, led by Pro-
vost Pepper, of the university of Penn
sylvania, marched into the hall.
The tables, as lad, extended
the entire length of the hall. The pres
ident had his seat at the place of honor
at the northern side of the building,
fanked on the right by Provost Pepper,
who acted as toast master, and on the
left by George w. ChildS. The other
guests at this table were Secretaries
Bayard and Fairchild and Frederick
Fraley. At the other tables were
seated, among others, Lieut.-Gen.
Sheridan, Admiral Luce, Justices
Of the Supreme Court Stanley,
Matthews, Miller and Harlan,
Gen. j. NJ. Schofeld, and the foreign
diplomats. While the gentlemen were
still eating Mrs. Cleveland, accompanied
by Mrs. Lamont, entered the proscen-
ium box. Her arrival was the signal for
an Outburst of applause from the gentle
men below, followed by the appearance
in the balcony seats of the wives,
tlemen on the floor. Almost as
soon as the ladies had taken
their seats. Provost Pepper opened the
speech making. He referred to the
various organizations under the joint
auspices of which the banquet to the
president was given as the OutgrOwth
OF that mOmentOus event of which this
was the hundredth annivery, and called
on the president to respond to the
toast, ''The President of the United
States" MIR. Cleveland said:
On such day as this, and in the atmos-
phere that now. surrounds him, feel that
the president of the United States should be
thoughtfully modest and humble. The great
Office he occupies stands to-day i'll the pres
ence of its makers; and it is especially fitting
for this servant of the people and
creature of the constitution amid the i'm
pressive scenes of this centennial occasion
by a rigid determination to be assured
concerning his loyalty and obedience to the
rules prescribed for his guidance require for
the performance of his duty, not the intel
lect or at.ainments which would raise him
far above the feeling. and sentiment
of the plain people of the land, but
rather such knowledge of their condition.
and sympathy with their wants and needs as
will bring him near TO them; and though he
may be almost appalled, by the weight of his
responsibility, and the solemnity of his stu
alton, he cannot fail to find comfort and en-
couragement i'll the success the fathers of the
constitution wrought from their simple,
patriotic devotion to the rights
and a. /, :, interests It OF the people. Surely
spirit which gave the constitution life Will
be sufficient for the successful operation and
the accomplishment of its beneficent pur-
poses. Because they are brought nearest to
the events and scenes which marked the birth
of American institutions, the people of
Philadelphia, should, of all our cit.
liens, be most imbued with senti-
ments OF the broadcast patriotism
The first continental congress and the con-
stitut1onal convention met here, and Phila-
delphia still has in her keeping. Carpenters
nall, Independence hall and its bell and the
grave OF Franklin AS look about me and
see here represented the societies that ex-
press so largely the culture of Philadelphia,
Its love OF art. its devotion to science, its
regard for the broadcast knowledge and it's
SPURIOUS care Tor historical research-socie-
ties, some of which antedate the constitu-
m feel that am in notable company.
To you is given the duty of preserving and
protecting for your city, forall your fellow
eountrymen and for mankind, the tradi-
tons and the incidents related to the
establishment of the freest and best
government ever vouchsafed to man. 1t is
sacred trust, and as time leads our govern
ment further and further from the date of its
birth, may you solemnly remember that a ma
tlon exacts of you that these traditions and
incidents shall never be furnished nor neg
lected, but that brightly Furnished. they
may always be held aloft, fastening the gaze
OF a patriotic people and keeping alive their
love and reverence for the constitution.
To- IL. r. L